Gavin Cross
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Gavin Cross
|image =
|team = Kansas City Royals
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|position = Center fielder
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|2|13}}
|birth_place = Bristol, Tennessee, U.S.
|bats = Left
|throws = Left
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Gavin James Cross (born February 13, 2001) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Kansas City Royals organization. He played college baseball for the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Amateur career
Cross attended Tennessee High School in Bristol, Tennessee.{{cite web|url=https://www.wjhl.com/sports/tennessee-high-alum-gavin-cross-continues-hot-streak-in-elizabethton/|title=Tennessee High alum Gavin Cross continues hot streak in Elizabethton|first=Jesse|last=Krull|date=July 10, 2021|website=WJHL-TV}} As a junior in 2018, he hit 12 home runs alongside stealing forty bases, a Tennessee state record.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesnews.net/sports/vikings-presson-heads-super-22-baseball-team/article_103315dd-8444-515c-a6c6-53c3c0737b5a.html|title=Vikings' Presson heads Super 22 baseball team|first=Douglas|last=Fritz|date=May 30, 2018|website=Kingsport Times-News}} After graduating in 2019, he enrolled at Virginia Tech to play college baseball for the Virginia Tech Hokies.
As a freshman in 2020, Cross started 16 games in which he batted .369 before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://wcyb.com/sports/content/bristol-native-gavin-cross-has-freshman-season-cut-short-at-virginia-tech|title=Bristol native Gavin Cross has freshman season cut short at Virginia Tech|first=Casey|last=Goetz|date=March 18, 2020|website=WCYB-TV}} He briefly played in the Coastal Plain League with the Peninsula Pilots that summer.{{cite web|url=https://heraldcourier.com/sports/locals-in-college-virginia-techs-gavin-cross-spending-some-time-at-home/article_fc2b76ce-c95a-11ea-8c6d-0fb6943c5b93.html|title=LOCALS IN COLLEGE: Virginia Tech's Gavin Cross spending some time at home|first=Tim|last=Hayes|date=July 18, 2020|website=Bristol Herald Courier}}{{cite web|url=https://richmond.com/sports/local/teel-coastal-plain-league-draws-top-baseball-talent-eager-for-any-opportunity-to-play-ball/article_e5da05d0-3353-5ffb-9643-09ee2a76bf03.html|title=Teel: Coastal Plain League draws top baseball talent eager for any opportunity to play ball|first=David|last=Teel|date=July 6, 2020|website=Richmond Times-Dispatch}} In 2021, as a redshirt freshman, he hit for the cycle during a game on April 6 versus East Tennessee State University, going 4 for 6 with seven RBIs and a grand slam.{{cite web|url=https://heraldcourier.com/sports/college-baseball-slammed-cross-hits-for-cycle-7-rbis-leads-hokies-past-etsu/article_13624032-9752-11eb-8c21-736f575be72d.html|title=COLLEGE BASEBALL: Slammed; Cross hits for cycle, 7 RBIs leads Hokies past ETSU|first=Tim|last=Hayes|date=April 6, 2021|website=Bristol Herald Courier}} Over 51 starts for the season, Cross slashed .345/.415/.621 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs.{{cite web|url=https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/sports/collegiate-national-team-to-tour-area-next-week/article_4e199f9e-dc36-11eb-80cc-7b98d14cafe5.html|title=Collegiate National Team to tour area next week|first=Joe|last=Avento|date=July 3, 2021|website=Johnson City Press}} He was named to the All-ACC First-Team, making him the first ever Hokie freshman to earn the honor.{{cite web|url=https://www.wfxrtv.com/sports/virginia-techs-gavin-cross-earns-first-team-all-acc-and-all-freshman-baseball-honors/|title=Virginia Tech's Gavin Cross earns First Team All-ACC and All-Freshman baseball honors|first=Jermaine|last=Ferrell|date=May 24, 2021|website=WFXR}} After the season's end, he was named to the USA Baseball National Collegiate Team.{{cite web|url=https://www.wjhl.com/sports/college-sports-2/bristol-native-cross-honored-to-be-a-part-of-the-usa-collegiate-national-team/|title=Bristol native Cross honored to be a part of the USA Collegiate National team|first=Kenny|last=Hawkins|date=July 7, 2021|website=WJHL-TV}} He batted .431 with four home runs and 14 RBIs with Team USA.{{cite web|url=https://www.wjhl.com/sports/gavin-cross-named-one-of-baseball-americas-top-50-college-prospects/|title=Gavin Cross named one of Baseball America's Top 50 College Prospects|first=Jesse|last=Krull|date=August 23, 2021|website=WJHL-TV}} He also played in seven games for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=1472222&seasonid=32825 |title=Gavin Cross |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=July 16, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://heraldcourier.com/sports/college-baseball-truly-an-honor-tennessee-high-graduate-cross-proud-to-play-for-team-usa/article_a068aef4-df95-11eb-acab-cbb3967e05f5.html|title=COLLEGE BASEBALL: 'Truly an honor'; Tennessee High graduate Cross proud to play for Team USA at DeVault Stadium|first=Tim|last=Hayes|date=July 7, 2021|website=Bristol Herald Courier}} Cross entered the 2022 season as a top prospect for the upcoming draft.{{cite web|url=https://heraldcourier.com/sports/locals-in-college-virginia-techs-gavin-cross-sees-his-stock-rising-in-baseball/article_94b2eb1c-9370-11ec-a4ea-2372dcf4cc24.html|title=LOCALS IN COLLEGE: Virginia Tech's Gavin Cross sees his stock rising in baseball|first=Tim|last=Hayes|date=February 21, 2022|website=Bristol Herald Courier}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wjhl.com/sports/college-sports-2/bristol-native-gavin-cross-talks-about-his-rise-in-the-latest-mock-mlb-draft/|title=Bristol native Gavin Cross talks about his rise in the latest mock MLB draft|first=Kenny|last=Hawkins|date=February 22, 2022|website=WJHL-TV}} He appeared in 57 games for the season, slashing .328/.411/.660 with 17 home runs, fifty RBIs, and 12 stolen bases.{{cite web | url=https://www.wjhl.com/sports/local-sports/bristol-native-gavin-cross-named-to-the-all-region-second-team/ | title=Bristol native Gavin Cross named to the All-Region Second team | date=June 16, 2022 }} Following the season's end, he traveled to San Diego where he participated in the Draft Combine.{{Cite web |last=Callis |first=Jim |date=2022-06-15 |title=Everything you need to know: Draft Combine |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/draft-combine-top-prospects-preview |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}}
Professional career
The Kansas City Royals selected Cross in the first round with the ninth overall selection of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Anne |date=2022-07-18 |title='Pretty good haul' for Royals on Day 1 of Draft |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/gavin-cross-drafted-no-9-by-royals-in-2022-mlb-draft |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}} He signed with the Royals, receiving a $5,202,900 signing bonus, the full slot value for the ninth pick.{{Cite web |last=Jacobs |first=Nick |date=2022-07-23 |title=Royals formally sign 1st round pick Gavin Cross from Virginia Tech |url=https://www.kshb.com/sports/royals-formally-sign-1st-round-pick-gavin-cross-from-virginia-tech |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=KSHB 41 Kansas City News |language=en}}
Cross made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Royals and was promoted to the Columbia Fireflies of the Single-A Carolina League after three games.{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Alec |date=2022-08-08 |title=Royals first-round pick Gavin Cross: Exciting potential, calm demeanor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3485548/2022/08/08/royals-gavin-cross-draft-pick/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808113738/https://theathletic.com/3485548/2022/08/08/royals-gavin-cross-draft-pick/ |archive-date=2022-08-08 |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=The Athletic}}{{Cite web |date=2022-08-09 |title=Royals promote Gavin Cross (Tennessee High) promoted to Low-A Columbia |url=https://heraldcourier.com/sports/royals-promote-gavin-cross-tennessee-high-promoted-to-low-a-columbia/article_10ef8904-1816-11ed-aaca-878e551713a1.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809221908/https://heraldcourier.com/sports/royals-promote-gavin-cross-tennessee-high-promoted-to-low-a-columbia/article_10ef8904-1816-11ed-aaca-878e551713a1.html |archive-date=2022-08-09 |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=The Bristol Herald Courier |language=en}} Over 29 games between both teams, he slashed .312/.437/.633 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs.{{Cite web |title=Gavin Cross Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.milb.com/player/gavin-cross-688457 |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}} Cross was assigned to the Quad Cities River Bandits of the High-A Midwest League to open the 2023 season.{{Cite web |last=Dykstra |first=Sam |date=2023-04-04 |title=Where the Royals' Top 30 prospects are starting season |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/where-royals-top-prospects-are-starting-2023-season |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}} In early August, he was promoted to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Double-A Texas League.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-07 |title=Royals Promote Cayden Wallace, Gavin Cross, Javier Vaz, and Tyson Guerrero to Northwest Arkansas |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/royals-promote-cayden-wallace-gavin-cross-javier-vaz-and-tyson-guerrero-to-northwest-arkansas/n-5999427 |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=OurSports Central |language=en}} In mid-August, he was placed on the injured list, ending his season.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-16 |title=Royals' Gavin Cross: Lands on injured list |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-gavin-cross-lands-on-injured-list/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} Over 96 games, he batted .203 with 12 home runs, 58 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases.{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Jaylon |date=2023-09-22 |title=Kansas City Royals sending 8 players to Arizona Fall League. Here's who's packing a bag |url=https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article279660019.html |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=The Kansas City Star}} After the season, he was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Surprise Saguaros.{{Cite web |last=Dykstra |first=Sam |date=2023-09-22 |title=Here are the 2023 Arizona Fall League rosters |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rosters-announced-for-2023-arizona-fall-league |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}} Cross was assigned to Northwest Arkansas for the 2024 season.{{Cite web |last=Callis |first=Jim |date=2024-04-02 |title=Where the Guardians' Top 30 prospects are starting the season |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/where-guardians-top-prospects-are-starting-2024-season |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}} Over 101 games, he batted .261 with 15 home runs, 59 RBIs, and thirty stolen bases and was named the Naturals Player of the Year.{{Cite web|title=Royals Name Cross, Zobac 2024 Naturals of the Year|url=https://www.milb.com/en/northwest-arkansas/news/royals-name-cross-zobac-2024-naturals-of-the-year|access-date=March 30, 2025 |website=milb.com |language=en-US}} Cross returned to Northwest Arkansas to open the 2025 season.https://www.milb.com/news/royals-top-prospect-jac-caglianone-powers-naturals-2025-breaking-roster
Personal life
Cross's father, Adam, played three seasons in the minor leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres organizations.{{cite web|url=https://heraldcourier.com/sports/crossed-father-son-share-a-love-for-baseball/article_c3339bb0-7556-11ea-a630-8fe5190c1bea.html|title=Crossed: Father-son share a love for baseball|first=Brian|last=Woodson|date=April 2, 2020|website=Bristol Herald Courier}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://hokiesports.com/sports/baseball/roster/gavin-cross/11973 Virginia Tech Hokies bio]
{{baseballstats|brm=cross-000gav}}
{{2022 MLB Draft}}
{{Kansas City Royals first-round draft picks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cross, Gavin}}
Category:Arizona Complex League Royals players
Category:Baseball players from Tennessee
Category:Brewster Whitecaps players
Category:Columbia Fireflies players
Category:Northwest Arkansas Naturals players
Category:People from Bristol, Tennessee
Category:Quad Cities River Bandits players
Category:Surprise Saguaros players
Category:United States national baseball team players